Kevin Garling scored the game-winner with 8:26 to play and host Ridley used great defense and smart play at the face-off X to defeat Central League rival Radnor, 5-3, today in the second round of the District 1 boys’ lacrosse championships.

The win vaults the seventh-seeded Green Raiders into the quarterfinals Saturday against second-seeded Central Bucks East at a site and time to be determined. CB East downed Bishop Shanahan, 10-6.

Garling finished with two goals and two assists and Kelton Heverly scored twice – adding the insurance goal with 6:07 to play – as the Green Raiders (17-3) rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit.

Matt Ward, Ridley’s all-league defenseman, moved up to the X with his long pole and helped the Green Raiders win 7 of 11 face-offs vs. Radnor standout face-off specialist Mike Barnes. Ward grabbed five groundballs and wingmen Mike Crowley (four) and Greg Cortes (three) also excelled at scooping groundballs after the draws.

Eric Streicher added a goal and an assist for Ridley and Cam Carney made four saves. Ridley also killed off three of four man-down situations and stifled a team that had scored 56 goals in its previous four games.

Jeff Puckette led the Red Raiders (12-8) with two goals and Ben Junior had a goal and an assist while Brendan Manderack made seven saves.
Ridley 5, Radnor 3